Three Forks

Three Forks is a town in Montana along the Lewis and Clark Trail. About 2,000 people live there. It is where the Jefferson, Madison, and Gallatin rivers converge, forming the start of the Missouri River.

• Three Forks Chamber of Commerce website

Three Forks is on Interstate 90. Exit 278 is the intersection for Montana Highway 2.

The nearest commercial airport is Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport (BZN ^IATA).

Three Forks is small enough to walk. You will need a car to see any nearby sites.

• Headwaters Heritage Museum, 202 S. Main (at the corner of Main and Cedar). June 1 through September 30. Free. 
• 45.822889-111.8508191 Lewis and Clark Caverns State Park, 25 Lewis and Clark Caverns Rd, Whitehall (18 miles southwest), ☏ +1 406-287-3541, Lewis&ClarkCavernsStatePark@mt.gov. By guided tour, daily from May 1st to September 30th. These limestone caverns, coated in stalactites and filled with intricate columns, make up Montana's first state park. There are two tour options: the Classic Cave Tour is 2 mi (3.2 km) and lasts two hours with over 600 stairs, the Paradise Tour is 1 mi (1.6 km) and about an hour long. The approaches to the cave are a walk from the main visitor center and are usually hot with little shade, so bring water and sunscreen. Adults $15, Seniors/Youth $10.  (updated Jul 2026)
• 45.7944-111.4632 Madison Buffalo Jump State Park, 6990 Buffalo Jump Rd, ☏ +1 406 285-3610. Daily, daylight hours. Situated on the edge of a valley created by the Madison River, this high cliff was used by Native Americans for at least 2,000 years. Native people stampeded vast herds of bison off this cliff, using them for food, clothing and shelter. $6/car.  (updated Jun 2018)
• 45.9207-111.4983 Missouri Headwaters State Park, 1585 Trident Rd. At the confluence of the Jefferson, Madison and Gallatin Rivers, this is where Lewis and Clark stayed in their historic exploration of the west in 1805.  (updated Jun 2018)

If you're into rodeos, then you are in for a treat. Three Forks is home to the Three Forks Rodeo, and several other horse related events.

• 45.88886-111.559484 The Three Forks Rodeo and Parade. July. The Three Forks Rodeo and Parade offers two evenings of real rodeo action in a small town setting. There is music, food, bull and bronc riding, crafts, a hometown parade.  
• Montana Antique Aircraft Association Fly-In is an annual event at Pogreba Field.

• Three Forks Cafe, 24 Main St, ☏ +1 406 285-4843.  

• 45.92028-111.590171 Bridger Brewing Company, 75 Vigilante Way, ☏ +1 406 285-9876. Wed-Sun 11:30-close, kitchen closes 9PM. Microbrewery with Montana food. Hosts outdoor concerts and has camping sites available.  (updated Jul 2023)
• Frontier Club, 213 Main St, ☏ +1 406 285-9876.  
• Plaza Bar, 204 Main St, ☏ +1 406 285-9880.  

• Sacajawea Hotel, 5 Main St, ☏ +1 406 285-6515. Hotel has been tastefully renovated to feel at once inviting, up to date and rustic. 
• Broken Spur Motel, 124 W Elm, ☏ +1 406 285-3237. Charming old school motel with clean and pleasant rooms, free wifi, complimentary shampoo and soap. 
• Fort Three Forks Motel and RV Park, 10776 Highway 287 (from I-90, turn north off Exit #274 onto Hwy 287), ☏ +1 406 285-3233, toll-free: +1-800 477-5690. Check-in: 3 PM, check-out: 10 AM.  (updated Mar 2023)

• Bozeman
• Butte
• Virginia City (60 miles south) is the original capital of the Montana Territory and iconic "wild west".

Missoula ← Butte ←	W  E	→ Belgrade → Bozeman
Helena ← Townsend ←	N  S	→ West Yellowstone → Yellowstone N.P.
Butte ← Jct S ←	W  E	→ END